Nasrallah slams Arabs’ 'silence'

Only Palestinians resisting Israeli heritage plan, Hizbullah chief charges.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
hassan nasrallah 311 (photo credit: AP)
hassan nasrallah 311
(photo credit: AP)
Hizbullah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah on Monday praised Palestinians for “refusing to surrender” in the face of Israel’s national heritage plan and reprimanded Arab states for their “silence” on the issue. He also issued a warning to Israel, saying the terrorist organization was harboring “surprises,” Hizbullah’s Al-Manar TV reported.
In a televised address marking the birthday of the prophet Muhammad as part of Islamic Unity Week, Nasrallah accused Israel of indifference to the world’s one billion Muslims, and of seeking to include Jerusalem and the national heritage sites within its territory.
“All this happens amid an Islamic and Arab silence only violated by minor denouncements,” Nasrallah said, adding that nobody was actually defending the Muslims’ holy sites except the Palestinians.
“Israel doesn’t expect any response from the Arab street or from Arab governments,” he said, but “this resistant minority [Palestinians in Israel and Lebanon] has perceived its strength and refused to surrender.”
He added that the Palestinians did not fear death but rather sought to live with honor and dignity, according to the Al-Manar report.
Nasrallah also praised Iran for what he said was its goal of “intervening” on behalf of the Palestinians.
“It is unacceptable to doubt Iran’s intentions that aim at intervening to support the Palestinian cause,” he was quoted as saying.
The Hizbullah leader also addressed President Shimon Peres directly, saying, “You have exited Lebanon once and for all, and I tell you, you will never be able to come back to Lebanon.”
“When Israel was confronted with a stern and unyielding rhetoric, itwas forced to change its tone and to seek pacification on its northernborder,” he continued.
“The Israelis know very well that everything we have said can beachieved,” he said. “When we threaten Israel, we mean what we say, andIsrael knows quite well that every word said would not have been [said]had there not been absolute conviction in the possibility ofimplementing and realizing it. [And] what we have said is noteverything, as we harbor surprises.”